51V and 93Nb high resolution NMR study of NbVO5

Abstract

NbVO5 is characterized by 51V and 93Nb NMR resonance frequencies strongly upfield shifted when compared to those in model compounds V2O5 and LiNbO3. The chemical shift anisotropy dominates the 51V observed spectrum in a magnetic field of 11.7 T. The asymmetry parameter ηc is 0.2 and the quadrupole coupling constant is relatively small (1 MHz). The quadrupolar Hamiltonian overwhelmingly dominates the 93Nb spectrum (ηQ = 0.9) and the quadrupole coupling constant is huge (16.5 MHz). In agreement with the structure obtained from the x-ray powder diagram the isotropic chemical shift of 51V suggests that NbVO5 is indeed an orthovanadate. Interestingly, in NbVO5 the isotropic chemical shift of 93Nb reveals a better shielding of the 93Nb nucleus and a lower electric field gradient than in LiNbO3. Nb octahedra in NbVO5 are sharing corners whereas they share edges in LiNbO3.